I think it is time to speculate on McCain's running mate. I don't think Condi helps McCain in the election (she would however, be the perfect choice for Romney).

I think McCain needs a solid conservative from the South with a good domestic track record who could be president. Haley Barbour comes to mind...but I am not saying it should be him.

Bill Frist might also be a good choice.

I can't think of any really good woman or black conservatives that would match up with McCain. Libby Dole could be a great choice, but she may be too old at this point. Maybe KBH would be a good choice.

Because he did such a great job as Majority Leader? I think if you have two senators vying for the Presidency, the last thing you want in the VP slot is yet another (ex-) senator. Picking someone from the DC establishment would, I think, be fatal for McCain -- especially if the Democratic candidate is Obama. A dynamic speaker vs two creaky old white guys who've been in DC forever.

I didn't think of Watts. He could be a very good choice. I think Palin is too inexperienced at this point. She is more inexperienced than Obama.

KBH could be McCains best bet. She actually has more elected political experience than Hillary and also has private industry experience. Plus, she is a pretty solid conservative. (also quite attractive for being 65).

Madison Man: I spent 45 minutes hunkered down in my bathroom with wife, great dane and a mattress last nite in Memphis. I have been through earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes, but tornadoes are really scary. They passed about a mile east of us.

Of course, the big story of the day, that is all but ignored by the press, is the most deadly tornado outbreak since May 1985!

That's because it isn't interesting to the media until a lot of people are dead and they can have close ups of the bodies with tear jerking stories by the survivors and figure some way to spin it so it is George Bush's fault.

Of course when it happens again and Hillary is the Queen, the media will have her miraculously descending from heaven to save the poor downtrodden pipples.

"I can't think of any really good woman or black conservatives that would match up with McCain."

If the Democratic candidate is Clinton, a woman or Black conservative might make sense. If it's Obama, though, a Black conservative isn't going to help any, because Black voters will vote for the Black candidate overwhelmingly. In Democratic contests, he's already getting Black voter margins like the margins Democratic candidate get when they run against Republicans in the general election. I can't imagine those margins are going to come down any in a general election. In the Obama scenario, McCain should look for an Hispanic running mate. At least if he's going to choose running mates based on identity politics.

middle class guy, yesterday:When you cannot give a logical, historically accurate, or knowledgeable response, you descend to the abyss of insult. Are you trying to debate an issue or are you trying to demonstrate your lowbreeding and lack of social skills and rudimentary etiquette.

middle class guy, today:

fstopfitzgerald,You really do have squirrls juggling knives in your brain.

Analysing this chart using the technical method, the underlying trade volume of the chart indicates an unusual atypical spiking in the McCain brand due to the large volume of trading in a very short period of time. Investor sentiment isn't that strong enough to support the continued upward trend especially when compared to the charts of competing brands (which are not shown in this chart). We may be looking at a Hikkake pattern in this chart and if so I wouldn't recommend buying this investment at this level as it may be evidence of a false breakout.

On the fundamental analysis side. The market share for this product is predicated on a nation wide distribution of the brand and skillful marketing campaigns. Regional markets for this brand are weak.

The financial fundamentals have been improving with recent wider distribution and promotion, however the brand seems somewhat underfunded. Not having complete access to the financial statements or cash flows it is difficult to determine the financial ratios or to compare to competing brands where the statements are also occluded. More analysis would be required.

In respect of the health/strength of the brand, there have been some negative changes in the fundamentals the past and the product may be reaching the end of its viable longevity. If the brand were to be able to acquire another complimentary supporting brand that has wider consumer appeal, it is likely that there could be survivability of the company should the main brand be permanently retired. However, the complimentary brand should be closely analysed for fundamental strengths and weakness before acquisition. Given the rush to production, however, this due diligence doesn't seem likely.

Products produced by the brand have had some negative consumer feedback, rejection of some products and undesirable effects when using the products. This adversely affects the overall marketability. In fact, many previous consumers have either changed brands or have declined to purchase any similar products produced by all manufacturers. In addition there is a vigorous negative campaign being mounted by the competing brand which has wide spread media and advertising support.

Given the negatives from current users and the intense competition from the competing brand, I cannot recommend investing at this time.

I don't think McCain's chances are all that great in the general. Not hopeless, but not very good, especially if he's against Obama. If McCain picks some safe, white guy Southern conservative as a running mate, then he is doomed.

I think it is time to speculate on McCain's running mate. I don't think Condi helps McCain in the election (she would however, be the perfect choice for Romney).

This is the woman that is Bush's #1 policy advisor and was in on the call on all matters of foreign policy, Iraq, War on Terror? Plus some domestic faux pas of the hapless Dubya and maybe even Harriet Miers?

You'd have a better chance selling Don Rumsfeld with breast implants as the "diverse choice" capable of leading the nation from "Day 1" as President.

***************If by a piece of luck McCain collpsed mentally or emotionally, had a health crisis, or we found Putin handing over all the transcripts of McCains POW years the KGB got from the Vietnamese....

and Romney rose from the ashes...

Romney could score with a top Admiral or General. A hispanic one in particular, but some war hero good ol' boy from the South would work as well. Appointing blacks is a waste of time for Republicans until blacks wake up, move off the Democrat plantation, and put their votes in play for both parties fo vie for.**************Sadly, one of the best running mates for McCain might possibly be Jeb Bush.

Sadly, no brother messed up the future of another brother the way Dubya messed it up for his smarter, more competent younger brother since the days of Cain and Abel.